MOVIE REVIEW: 'Planet of the Apes' trilogy comes to a thrilling end

Thursday

Jul 13, 2017 at 7:00 AM

Even though this edition of the backstory doesn't bring the saga right up to the original half-century-old film, here's hoping it stops here. We get closure and accompanying satisfaction and there's just no reason to continue it.

By Ed Symkus/For The Patriot Ledger

Right from the days of its initial, mostly very positive, reviews in 2011, “Rise of the Plant of the Apes” was said to be the first in a trilogy of prequel films that would tell the story of what led up to the events of the iconic 1968 blockbuster “Planet of the Apes.” “Rise” was a huge hit. The second entry, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” in 2014, got better reviews and made a lot more money. The reviews for “War of the Planet of the Apes” will be no less effusive. Director Matt Reeves is back behind the camera and the movie is the stuff of great filmmaking, from a strong story to excellent acting and directing and, of course, the by-now-expected state-of-the-art visual effects. Here’s hoping that, because of the way this entry concludes, even though it doesn’t bring the saga right up to that half-century-old film, it stops here. We get closure and accompanying satisfaction, and there’s just no reason to continue it.

My only quibble is with the title, as many people, seeing the word “War” will conjure up a huge, end-of-times battle between the humans and the apes. But it’s not that simple. There are all sorts of wars going on in “War.” The one between humans and apes remains at the fore, but the film also explores wars involving man vs. man, ape vs. ape, and disease vs humankind.

The story opens 15 years after the simian virus began wiping out the human race, leaving only pockets of those who had an unexplained immunity. Word of a ruthless army colonel leading his forces against apes living in the wild is shown to be the real thing, with cameras busily following a huge fight in the deep woods, with forces using weapons ranging guns to bows and arrows.

Ever-scowling Caesar (Andy Serkis) makes an early entrance with a message to the opposing leader, Colonel McCullough (Woody Harrelson): “Leave us the woods, and the killing will stop.” No, that’s not going to happen. The apes just want to live their lives, but the colonel has an agenda, one that begins with a plan to kill Caesar, then move on to taking out the rest of his kind.

It’s a study of two very different commanders. Caesar has a motto: “Apes together strong.” The colonel doesn’t want the apes to exist. Serkis, again delivering one of those specialized motion-capture performances, imbues Caesar with dignity and nobility. He is a true leader. Harrelson’s McCullough is a multilayered character: He slaughters his enemies in cold blood, with no feeling, and he’s a self-centered egomaniac. In other words, a perfect role for Harrelson, who knows his way around these parts.

Things get personal between Caesar and McCullough, and the only avenue Caesar can see is one of revenge. Yet at the same time, in an obvious allusion to our Trumpian times, it’s revealed that the apes aren’t the only ones who would opt for McCullough’s demise. He and his small army have captured masses of apes and are forcing them to build a wall, one that will keep out not just apes, but also the military forces who are coming after the renegade McCullough. The film paints him as a kind of combination of Trump and Marlon Brando’s Colonel Kurtz in “Apocalypse Now,” a soft-spoken, demented villain.

The script, from Mark Bomback and co-written by Reeves, goes a lot deeper than this, picking up on the problems faced by a young mute girl named Nova (Amiah Miller) as well as those of an ape going by the moniker Bad Ape (Steve Zahn), who’s in the film for some sympathy and Dobby-like comic relief. The plot also includes references to a mutation of the simian flu, and gets into discussions of the philosophy of war and the consequences of revenge-fueled hate.

Again, the conclusion is about as perfect as one could hope for. Let this movie make gobs of money, but also let wise heads prevail, and call it the end. WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES (PG-13 for violence) Cast: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Amiah Miller. Grade: A